ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Special Service and Features
Southern Railway delivers over 1000 MT of LMO for Tamil Nadu through 18 Oxygen Express trains
Two Oxygen Express trains deliver 246.56 MT of Oxygen to Kerala
Southern Railway delivers 1024.18 MT of LMO for Tamil Nadu through 18 Oxygen Express trains during the period from 14th May to 23rd May 2021. On date, Inland Container Depot, Tondiarpet has handled 13 loaded Oxygen Express trains that delivered a total of 785.87 MT of LMO. Two Oxygen Express trains delivered 48.78 MT of LMO at Madukkarai, one Oxygen Express each at Vadipatti  , Milavattan  and Tiruvallur .
The nineteenth Oxygen Express carrying 30.5 MT of LMO in 2 tankers and the twentieth Oxygen Express carrying 43.05 MT of LMO in 2 containers, both dispatched from Rourkela, are in transit.
Oxygen Express for Kerala
Kerala received its first loaded oxygen express carrying 6 Oxygen containers  dispatched from Tata Steel Siding in Kalinganagar, Odisha on 16-05-2021 at Vallarpadam Container Terminal, Kochi. The second Oxygen Express for Kerala dispatched from Rourkela carrying 128.66 MT in 7 containers arrived at Vallarpadam Container Terminal, Kochi on 22-5-2021.
With this, the total Oxygen delivered for Kerala is 246.56 MT through two Oxygen Express trains.
Indian Railways has delivered more than 16023 MT of LMO in more than 977 tankers to various states across the country. 247 Oxygen Expresses have completed their journey so far and brought relief to various States. 12 loaded Oxygen Expresses on run with more than 920 MT of LMO in 50 tankers.
Highest ever single day load of more than 1142 MT of Oxygen relief delivered by Oxygen Expresses yesterday. Previous best was 1118 MT on 20th May 2021.
Amongst the Southern States, delivery of LMO to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka crossed 1000 MT each.
614 MT of Oxygen has been offloaded in Maharashtra, nearly 3649 MT in Uttar Pradesh, 633 MT in Madhya Pradesh, 4600 MT in Delhi, 1759 MT in Haryana, 98 MT in Rajasthan, 1063 MT in Karnataka, 320 MT in Uttarakhand, 1024.18 MT in Tamil Nadu, 730 MT in Andhra Pradesh, 225 MT in Punjab, 246.56 MT in Kerala, 976 MT in Telangana and 80 MT in Assam.
This is stated in a press release issued by Shri.B. Guganesan, Chief Public Relations Officer. Southern Railway, Chennai
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
Third Phase of PMKVY
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship under Skill India Mission launched the third phase of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana  on 15.01.2021, to train 8.00 lakh people across the country with an outlay of Rs. 948.90 Cr. PMKVY 3.0 is a demand driven programme, with bottom-up planning for identification and mapping of job roles. Under the scheme, District Skill Committee  shall be the focal point for its implementation. DSC shall have major role in preparation of district level plan, mobilization &counselling of candidates, formation of training batches, monitoring of quality assurance & post training support. The scheme is aligned to Common Cost Norms and National Skill Qualification Framework .
As on 29.01.2021, 35,644 candidates have been enrolled across the country. States/UTs wise details of training under PMKVY 3.0, as on 29.01.2021 , is given at Annexure.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Raj Kumar Singh in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Defence
ICG Organises Subordinate Officers Conclave
The 4thCoast Guard Subordinate Officers Conclave 2019 was inaugurated by Director General Rajendra Singh here today. The two-day conclave at Coast Guard Headquarters will have brainstorming and various other plenary sessions, involving highly motivated and committed subordinate officers who have come from various units of Coast Guard across the country.
Indian Coast Guard  and has not only broadened the horizons of subordinate officers but also has provided them a platform to express their innovative ideas, thought process before the highest decision-making echelons in the service. While speaking on the occasion Director General Rajendra Singh said that the idea of Subordinate Officers Conclave is in sync with the Prime Minister’s vision to encourage innovative idea towards inclusive growth of the Service.
Director General Rajendra Singh also conferred ‘Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak’ on Navik Vinod in recognition of his exceptional courage, expert use of lifesaving techniques and selfless attitude displayed in saving a precious life of a women drowning in to rough sea due to monsoonal weather conditions in pitch dark hours near Gateway of India, Mumbai in 2018.
A Coast Guard Benevolent Association App was also launched by DG Coast Guard on the occasion. With the launch of this App the Coast Guard Personnel can log on the site and apply for the required financial assistance online. This App is a step forward towards paperless Office and ease of transactions.
The deliberations in the 4th Conclave will focus on accountability in job profile, improving lifestyle for healthy living and more importantly integrating evolving technology in Coast Guard operations, especially towards strengthening search and rescue organisations during cyclone and floods.
Nampi/DK/HS
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Ministry of Finance
84.61% of total defrauded funds attached/seized under PMLA and Fugitive Economic Offenders Act
Consortium of banks realizes Rs. 7,975.27 crore by sale of assets
Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002  and Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018  provide that the Special Court trying the offence may restore any property/assets involved in money laundering to a third party claimant with legitimate interest, including banks. This was stated by Union Minister of State for Finance Shri Pankaj Chaudhary in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
The Minister stated that in the cases pertaining to Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi who have defrauded Public Sector banks by siphoning off the funds through their companies which resulted in total loss of Rs. 22,585.83 crore to the public sector banks.
Giving more details, the Minister stated that as on 15.03.2022, assets worth Rs. 19,111.20 crore have been attached under the provisions of PMLA. Out of which, assets worth Rs. 15,113.91 crores has been restituted to the Public Sector Banks. In addition, assets worth Rs 335.06 crore have been confiscated to Government of India.
The Minister further stated that as on 15.03.2022, 84.61% of the total defrauded funds in these cases have been attached/seized and 66.91% of total loss to the banks has been handed over to Banks/Confiscated to Government of India. It is pertinent to mention here that as on 15.03.2022, the consortium of banks led by SBI has realized Rs. 7,975.27 crore by sale of assets handed over to them by the Directorate of Enforcement, the Minister added.
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
Payroll Reporting in India – A Formal Employment Perspective
The National Statistical Office , Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the press note on Employment Outlook of the country covering the period September, 2017 to August, 2022 based on the administrative records available with selected government agencies to assess the progress in certain dimensions.
A detailed note is annexed.
Ministry of Defence
Removing pendency & improving cleanliness key focus areas of Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare under Special Campaign 3.0
Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare , Ministry of Defence has taken a number of initiatives under the ‘Special Campaign for Disposal of Pending Matters’. It has identified removing pendency and improving cleanliness as the key focus areas, which will result in better record management, enhancing work efficiencies, increasing transparency and contributing towards a sustainable future. Steps are being taken for the maintenance of the government files and getting rid of the obsolete ones. The Special Campaign 3.0 seeks to institutionalise Swachhata and removal of pendency not only as a one-time best practice, but imbibing them as a matter of habit in day-to-day functioning.
This year, focus review of the campaign in respect of Ministry of Defence and its departments/attached/subordinate offices is being undertaken. The DESW has identified more than 500 files to be reviewed for weeding out. It is carrying out the campaign pan India and has identified various sites to include the remotest sites and offices that have the highest public interference like the Various Zila Sainik Boards, Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme Polyclinics and Zonal Resettlement Offices. Recognised Ex-Servicemen Associations are also undertaking cleanliness drives through various activities like Swachhata rally, minimising single-use plastic, village common area cleaning, etc. at various locations. Best practices will be documented and those making significant contributions are also honoured during the campaign.
Ministry of Finance
Income Tax Department conducts searches in Karnataka
The Income Tax Department carried out search and seizure operations on 02.12.2021 on four Bangalore based Credit Cooperative Societies  and their associates.
These search actions have revealed gross irregularities in the operations of these CCS and involvement of their promoters in siphoning-off funds of depositors for personal usage. The promoters of these CCS took advantage of the relaxed KYC norms while operating the CCS and several accounts have been opened without obtaining PAN. The promoters have misused these institutions for their personal benefit. The investigations have also revealed systemic distortion of the legal framework by these CCS.
Apart from the general irregularities noticed in their functioning, various unfair practices adopted and modus-operandi of tax evasion have been noticed during the course of search operations of these CCS as under:-
- One such CCS has been facilitating its clients to book bogus expense by returning the amount in cash, which had been received by cheque from its clients. The said CCS has also enabled laundering of unaccounted money by accepting cash deposits from its clients and returning the proceeds to them through RTGS. The said CCS has also been found to be engaged in providing short term loan at very high rates of interest to some of non-members of CCS. Needless to mention that the CCS does not have requisite approval for carrying out the business of lending.
- Certain instances of issuing fake Fixed Deposit  certificates by another CCS to its clients in exchange of certain commission collected in cash have also been found. Such FD certificates have been used as collateral by its clients for obtaining loans from financial institutions/Commercial Banks.
- The promoters of one of the CCS have indulged in diverting the deposits made by genuine members by extending large loan amounts to the entities controlled by them or to their associates. Also, more than 100 benami accounts in the names of employees and others have been detected and such accounts have been placed under restraint.
- One of the clients of a CCS, who is engaged in the business of buying old gold from customers, has been found to be indulging in suppression of sales leading to escapement of income to the tune of Rs. 20 crore in these transactions. The books of account relating to such undisclosed transactions have been discovered by the search team in a secretly maintained web-based server.
Further, undisclosed investment in immovable properties aggregating to about Rs. 130 crore in the name of the chairman/ promoters of these CCSs, entities controlled by them and few benami persons have also been discovered.
The search action has resulted into seizure of unaccounted cash of more than Rs. 4 crore.
Further investigations are in progress.
Cabinet
Cabinet apprised of Agreement between India and Uzbekistan on Cooperation in the field of Science, Technology and Innovation
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of an Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Science, Technology and Innovation between India and Uzbekistan. The Agreement was signed on 1st October 2018 at New Delhi in the presence of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President of Uzbekistan Mr. Shavkat Mirayoyev, by the Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan on the Indian side and Minister of Innovative Development, Mr. Ibrohim Abdurakhmanov on the Uzbek side.
Benefits:
Signing of the Agreement will open a new chapter in bilateral relations, as both sides will now leverage complementary strengths spurred by a significant convergence of mutual interests in science and technology. The objective of the Agreement is to promote cooperation in the fields of science, technology and Innovation between the two countries. The stake-holders will include researchers from scientific organizations, academia, R&D laboratories and industries from India and Uzbekistan. Agriculture and Food Science and Technology; Engineering Sciences; Information and Communication Technology, Applied Mathematics and Data Science and Technology; Health and Medical Technology; Materials Sciences; Life Sciences & Biotechnology; Physics and Astrophysics and Energy, water, climate and natural resources were identified as potential areas for immediate collaboration.
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Petroleum Minister Hardeep S Puri urges OPEC to imbue a sense of pragmatism, balance and affordability in the oil markets
Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas met Secretary General – OPEC, addressed the OPEC crude production cuts and its impact on global energy sector.
Cumulatively, OPEC and OPEC+ have reduced the availability of oil by 4.96 mb/d  from the market since 2022, spiking brent prices from ~$72/bbl in June to ~$97/bbl in September 2023.
On the sidelines of the annual Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference  2023,on 3rd October 2023, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Housing, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri had bilateral discussion with Secretary General-OPEC, H.E. Mr. Haitham Al-Ghais.
During the discussions, the Minister highlighted, that due to the production cuts carried out by OPEC  and OPEC+ countries from August 2022 onwards, effectively around~5% of the total global oil availability has been removed from the market, causing crude oil price to rise ~ 34% in just last 3 months.
These cuts have been made despite growing energy demand. Brent Crude oil prices jumped from $ ~72 /bbl in June to $ ~97/bbl in September 2023, placing severe strains on the capacities of most oil importing consuming countries.
Minister highlighted that in the background of geopolitical crisis of 2022, which has added to existing inflationary pressures and created a real risk of recession in large parts of the world.
Minister further noted that while Government of India, through positive intervention had effectively cushioned its economy from spiralling energy prices, the World needs to be cognizant that around 100 million people have been pushed away from cleaner fuels, back to coal and firewood in the last 18 months.
Minister wondered whether the global economy is again going to witness a situation similar to the economic turmoil of 2008 which had become a self fulfilling prophecy. Brent prices had initially soared from $ 93.60/bbl in January 2008 to $ 134.3/bbl in July 2008, fueling an accelerated global economic meltdown, leading eventually to demand destruction and very low oil prices.
In the interest of global good, Minister advocated balancing global energy markets by ensuring that crude oil prices do not outstrip the paying ability of the consuming countries.
Minister urged OPEC to recognize the gravity of the current economic situation and urged the Secretary General to use his office to imbue a sense of pragmatism, balance and affordability in the oil markets.
Prime Minister's Office
Credit Guarantee Scheme revamped further, PM praises
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has said that revamping of credit guarantee scheme is a part of Government's efforts to strengthen the MSME sector.
In a tweet thread Union Minister for MSME, Shri Narayan Rane informed that as part of the continuous efforts to strengthen MSE Sector, Credit Guarantee Scheme has been further revamped to increase the flow of credit to MSEs.
Responding to the tweet thread by the Union Minister, the Prime Minister tweeted;
"This is a part of our Government's efforts to strengthen the MSME sector."
Ministry of Railways
Ministry of Railways issues "Policy on Development of Goods-sheds"at small/road-side stations through Private Investment
The Policy aims at augmenting terminal capacity through private participation by allowing setting up of new goods-shed facilities and developing existing goods-sheds
Aiming at augmenting terminal capacity through private participation by allowing setting up of new goods-shed facilities and developing existing goods-sheds  at a larger number of stations, Ministry of Railways have issued a Policy on Development of Goods-sheds at small/road-side stations through Private Investment.
Salient features of the Policy are as under:-
- Private parties permitted to develop goods wharf, loading/unloading facilities, facilities for labour  approach road, covered shed and other related infrastructure. The facilities are to be created/developed by the private party through its own investment.
- All developments for the proposed facility will be as per approved Railway designs, and constructed to approved Railway standards and specifications.
- Railways shall not levy any departmental or any other charges for the construction.
- The facilities created by the private party shall be used as common user facility, and no preference or priority will be granted to the traffic of the party over the traffic of other customers.
- Responsibility for maintenance of assets and facilities created shall be vested with the party during the agreement period.
- Incentives under the scheme: Share in the Terminal Charges  and Terminal Access Charges , as the case may be, for all the inward and outward traffic dealt at the goods-shed for five  years, from the date of completion of the work.
- The party seeking the least share  shall be selected through competitive bidding, to be done At Divisional Level.
- Additional revenue for party through - utilization of available space for establishing small canteen/tea-shop, advertisements, etc.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Availability in States/UTs
More than 201.88 Crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs
More than 5.73 Crore balance and unutilized vaccine doses still available with States/UTs
The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country. The nationwide COVID 19 vaccination started on 16th January 2021. The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from 21st June 2021. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining the vaccine supply chain.
As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, Government of India has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them COVID Vaccines free of cost. In the new phase of the universalization of the COVID19 vaccination drive, the Union Government will procure and supply  75% of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country to States and UTs.
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VACCINE DOSES
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SUPPLIED
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2,01,88,89,325
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BALANCE AVAILABLE
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5,73,31,800
More than 201.88 crore  vaccine doses have been provided to States/UTs so far through Govt. of India  and through direct state procurement category.
More than 5.73 Cr  balance and unutilized COVID Vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered.
PIB Headquarters
PIB’S BULLETIN ON COVID-19
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- 186.07 cr vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
- India's Active caseload currently stands at 10,870
- Active cases stand at 0.03%
- Recovery Rate currently at 98.76%
- 1,081 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to 4,25,05,410
- 1,088 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours
- Daily positivity rate 
- Weekly Positivity Rate 
- 79.49 cr Total Tests conducted so far; 4,29,323 tests conducted in the last 24 hours
#Unite2FightCorona #IndiaFightsCorona
Press Information Bureau
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Government of India
Special Service and Features
International Award for DD Podhigai
Asia - Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development, Malaysia has presented the Jury award for the documentary “Olirum Punnagai- Zardozi art and artisans” produced by DD Podhigai, under the category, “best television programme on amplifying economy recovery efforts’ at the AIBD International award ceremony held as a part of 18 th Asia Media Summit held at Bali, Indonesia on 23 rd May, 2023.
Zardozi is a true Pan-Asian art which was originated at Turkey and has travelled throughout Asian region before reaching India. The documentary traces the history and evolution of zardozi art, skills of artisans, its present status and future scope.
Main focus is on a small Zardozi hub in Triplicane area of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. This documentary was conceived and produced by Shri. Raman Krishnamachari assisted by cameraman R. Santhanam and audio engineers T.D. Viswanathan and S. Anthony Sami. “This international award which was won by DD Chennai after a gap of 25 years is the mark of excellence that DDK Chennai has achieved in Public Service Broadcasting” says Dr. N. Raghu, Head of Programmes, DDK, Chennai in his press release.
Finance Commission
The First Meeting of the 15th Finance Commission’s Committee on Fiscal Consolidation Roadmap to be held tomorrow
The First Meeting of the15th Finance Commission’s Committee on Fiscal Consolidation Roadmap is scheduled on 21st May, 2020 through video conferencing.
One of Terms of Reference  of the Fifteenth Finance Commission  is to make recommendations on the fiscal consolidation roadmap of the Central and State Governments, taking into account their responsibility to adhere to appropriate levels of debt and deficit levels, while fostering higher inclusive growth, guided by the principles of equity, efficiency and transparency. In pursuance of this ToR, the XVFC constituted a Committee to Review the Fiscal Consolidation Roadmap of the General Government on 18th March 2020 under the chairmanship of Shri. N K Singh, Chairman, XVFC.
Action has already been taken by the Union Government on the Report of the XVFC for the year 2020-21. The mandate of the XVFC, under the aforesaid ToR, is to workout the fiscal consolidation roadmap for the General Government for the period, 2021-22 to 2025-26. This task has been complicated by the extra-ordinary situation caused by the spread of the pandemic and the concomitant fiscal compulsions on the Central and State Governments. Responding to the situation, the Union Government has given additional borrowing space of 2 percentage points of GDP to the State Governments, apart from the 3 per cent that was already available.
In order to take stock of the emerging fiscal scenarios and to chart the way forward, an online meeting of the aforesaid Committee has been scheduled for tomorrow. The meeting is likely to be attended by Mr. N K Singh , Mr.Ajay Narayan Jha and Dr. Anoop Singh, Members of the XVFC, Dr. Krishnamurthy Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser, Ms. Soma Roy Burman, Controller General of Accounts, Mr. Rajat Kumar Mishra, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mr. S Krishnan, Additional Chief Secretary of the Government of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Anirudh Tiwari, Principal Secretary of the Government of Punjab and Dr. Sajjid Z Chinoy and Dr. Prachi Mishra, eminent analysts.